ZINC PYRITHIONE AS AN ANTIFOULING BIOCIDE IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Since the ban of tributyltin (TBT) from antifouling paint, many alternative biocides have been introduced to replace TBT. Among the alternative biocides, zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) is one of the most frequently used chemicals in antifouling paints. Studies showed that ZnPT can have high toxicity towards marine organisms, with a feature to be easily photodegraded under UV light and transchelated into other compound in the presence of metal ions. To define the risk of ZnPT brought to the marine environment, the environmental release and distribution of ZnPT were determined by various chromatographic or voltammetry methods. However, most of them faced difficulties in examining the environmental concentration due to the rapid transchelation and photodegradation of ZnPT in the environment or even in the laboratory. More robust and sensitive analytical method need to be developed to reliably describe the environmental release and distributions of ZnPT in the environment. In this presentation, overall chemical characteristics and environmental fates of ZnPT, along with analytical challenges, are discussed.nts. Studies showed that ZnPT can have high toxicity towards marine organisms, with a feature to be easily photodegraded under UV light and transchelated into other compound in the presence of metal ions. To define the risk of ZnPT brought to the marine environment, the environmental release and distribution of ZnPT were determined by various chromatographic or voltammetry methods. However, most of them faced difficulties in examining the environmental concentration due to the rapid transchelation and photodegradation of ZnPT in the environment or even in the laboratory. More robust and sensitive analytical method need to be developed to reliably describe the environmental release and distributions of ZnPT in the environment. In this presentation, overall chemical characteristics and environmental fates of ZnPT, along with analytical challenges, are discussed.